Adolph g



(N6 Model.) 7

- A-LGLHOPSTAT'TER.

Picture Nail.

No. 240,023 Patented April 12, 1881.

NVEJTUR,

PATENT QFFIGE ADOLPH G. .HOFSTATTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.-

PICTURE-NAIL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,023, dated April 12, 1881. Application filed March 7, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLPH G. HOFSTAT- TEE, a residen tof the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picture-Nails; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to facilitate the withdrawal of the nail from a wall without breaking or marring the plastering around it, and to impart a neat and ornamental finish thereto when in place.

It consists in forming about the body of the I nail two annular offsets or shoulders, removed from each other sufficiently to admit of the insertion of a hammer-claw or other form of retracting-lever between them, and in combining with the nail and its innermost shoulder a shield-plate centrally perforated to receive the inner end of the nail as far as its said shoulder, so that the shield may be pinned thereby against the wall when the nail is driven home. The inner shoulder, bearing against the shield, may consist of the'end of a short tube or collar fitted over the nail against its first shoulder, and said firstshoulder is then made in the form of an annular flange, deepenough to projcctout beyond the collar when the latteris slipped against it or the second shoulder may be formed, like the first, directly upon the body of the nail.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the improved nail formed with a flange and shoulder, with a side view of the shield made to fit over it. Fig. 2-is a longitudinal sectional view of the nail when driven into the wall, with the protecting-shield in place against the wall and Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view of the nail and shield in place,

illustrating the formation of an inner shoulder to secure the shield by the use of a short tube or collar slipped upon the nail against its annular flange or offset.

A is the picture-nail, preferably made of wrought-iron, and which is provided with a suitable head, I), of any desired form, and fashioned with a flange, c c, encircling its body at a short distance in the rear of its head b, and with a second shoulder, d, formed upon its body at a distance in the rear of the encirclingflange or ofiset 0 sufficient to admit of the insertion of a ham mer-claw or other similar form of lever between the two.

E is a thin shield or guard-plate, of metal,

rubber, hard paper, or other suitable material,

and of any ornamental shape and configuration, but preferably circular in form, which is pierced centrally with a perforation. of proper diameter to admit of the insertion through it of the point of the nail up to its second or inner shoulder, d, so that said shoulder shall bear against the shield when the nail is driven home and operate to pin it against the wall, as shown in Fig. 2.

Instead of formi mg the second or inner shoulder, d, directly upon the body of the nail, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I contemplate interposing a collar or short piece of tube, f, upon. the body of the nail, between its flange c and the shield E, to bear against the latter when the nail is driven home; and I also contemplate forming the flange 0 upon a tube or collar, to he slipped over the nail so as to be interposed between its head I) and the shieldplate E, the object in view being to provide upon the nail an offset, d, which shall operate to hold the shield-plate E against the wall bination with a projecting annular flange, c, interposed between the head of the nail and the shield-plate, so as to furnish, independently of the head, a hold for the claw of a hammer between the head and the wall, to facilitate the withdrawal of the nail when desired. The claw of the retracting-tool, when acting as a lever to pry out the nail, will find its fulcrum-point upon the shield, which will thus protect the wall from the action of the instrument.

What 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by I etters Patent, is-

l. A picture-nail provided with an encirclingflange, c,and shoulderd,forn1ed upon thebody thereof, apart from each other and from the head of the nail, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination of a shield 01' wall-pro- In testimony whereof I have signed my tecting plate,E,withanail,A,passingthrough name to this specification in the presence of 10 it, and provided with an inner offset, 01, to entwo subscribing witnesses. gage and secure the shield, and with a second 5 offset or flange, c, to furnish a hold for a re- ADOLPH HOFSTATTER' tractingdevice when inserted between the Witnesses: shield and the head ofthe nail, substantially as J. E. AGKER, J12, and for the purpose herein set forth. F. A. E. DISNEY. 

